Friday, November 4, 2011

7:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

7:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.

7:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.

8:00 A.M. - 9:30 A.M.

Five New Studies from BHI to Promote Audiology
Sergei Kochkin, Ph.D.

Five new publications will be presented from the MarkeTrak VIII survey (2009): 1. The efficacy of hearing aids in achieving compensation equity in the workplace. 2. The market for direct mail and personal sound amplifying products (PSAPs) 3. Validity and reliability of the BHI Quick Hearing Check 4. Patient satisfaction with mini-BTE hearing aids 5. Benefit and quality of life changes associated with hearing aid usage.


Industrial Audiology 101: The “How to” Manual
Nancy N. Green, Au.D.

Many audiologists believe whole-heartedly in the principle of hearing loss prevention, but are sometimes at a loss as to how to provide these services in their practices. This seminar will provide information on how to: 1) properly provide industrial hearing conservation and hearing loss prevention services in any practice setting; 2) market industrial audiology services to area businesses; 3) determine what information businesses expect to be provided with in order to be compliant with federal law; and 4) locate additional education and training resources on hearing conservation and hearing loss prevention issues.


Motivational Influence Part I
Douglas Beck, Au.D. and Michael Harvey, Ph.D.

Motivational influence is a synergistic amalgamation of two areas of study within psychology. In particular, the relationship building and outcomes-oriented benefits of “Motivational Interviewing” are combined with “Influence” to reveal which human behaviors are likely to negatively and positively impact decision making and outcomes. The foundations and history of Motivational Interviewing and Influence will be discussed from a psychologist’s perspective in this two-part session and direct application to audiology and dispensing protocols will be offered and explored.


High Frequency Audiometry: An Underutilized Clinical Tool
Linda Remensnyder, Au.D. and Carly Smith, Au.D.

High frequency audiometry (HFA) is a sensitive tool with fast administration that is underutilized as a diagnostic measure for hearing loss issues. In this presentation, attendees will learn that the incorporation of HFA to flesh out a variety of hearing disorders makes it a viable clinical tool--especially for the private practitioner. The HFA assessment is fast, easy to administer, and easily accessible. Convincing evidence will be presented that HFA symmetry (for diagnosis) and the level of threshold responses (for management) provides supplemental value to the audiologists’ test battery.

9:30 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.

10:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.

Know the Ropes of Being a Preceptor and Avoid Getting Lost in the Sea
Tricia Dabrowski, Au.D. and Thomas Goyne, Au.D.

Professional movement towards autonomy requires that we create a strong educational model for student audiologists, while considering a personal commitment to mentor future colleagues in clinical skill and practice management techniques. Audiologists volunteer to precept because they enjoy the personal satisfaction of working with students and want to share their enthusiasm for the profession, while contributing to the education of the next generation. Time spent teaching can result in lengthening the preceptor’s work day or potentially decrease productivity. This presentation will review key elements of critical thinking and effective strategies to minimize the students impact on your practice while optimizing the educational experience.


Internet Marketing & Hearing Aids III: Utilizing Social Media to Grow Your Practice
Kevin St.Clergy, M.S.

This presentation will reveal how attendees can effectively use social media to educate their patients on various aspects of audiology and hearing aids. Using tools such as videos, articles, blog posts and podcasts, participants will discover how these tools can reach a very large audience in a very short period of time with little or no investment. The session will also cover how some patients are being educated by the wrong people and discuss an action plan for success and social media strategies that get results.


Motivational Influence Part II
Douglas Beck, Au.D. and Michael Harvey, Ph.D.

Motivational influence is a synergistic amalgamation of two areas of study within psychology. In particular, the relationship building and outcomes-oriented benefits of “Motivational Interviewing” are combined with “Influence” to reveal which human behaviors are likely to negatively and positively impact decision making and outcomes. The foundations and history of Motivational Interviewing and Influence will be discussed from a psychologist’s perspective in this two-part session and direct application to audiology and dispensing protocols will be offered and explored.


Patient Management for Primary Care Audiology
Adam Weinstein, M.D. and Craig Johnson, Au.D.

Due to the complexity of providing audiologic evaluation and management, audiologists are in a unique position to identify potential medical issues that require referral. Likewise, when a patient is being treated for a sensory loss, audiologists often have more frequent and lengthy contact with patients than many primary care physicians. This presentation will highlight common medical conditions that can be diagnosed during an audiologist’s routine intake interview and observation of a patient’s physical characteristics. Questions and observations will be reviewed related to general medical systems including dermalogical, cardiovascular, orthopedic, vision, and overall health and maintenance. The session will detail the laboratory or radiographic procedures that are correlated to the physical observations and/or history, where appropriate.

11:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

1:00 P.M. - 2:30 P.M.

Improved Patient Care through Lawsuit Protection and Prevention for Audiologists
Larry Oxenham, CFP

This presentation will teach proven strategies to prevent and protect against lawsuits, allowing audiologists the peace of mind necessary to focus on improved patient care. Attendees will learn lawsuit protection strategies most advisors are unaware of. The session will cover sources of lawsuits


Marketing to the Mature Marketplace: 10 Pathways to Success in 2011 and Beyond
Don Marsh, B.A.

We have reached a unique moment in our nation’s history, when one in three Americans will be over the age of 50, with the expectation of living longer than previous generations. For audiologists and their staff, the ability to better understand and communicate with this unique target audience will be the pathway to increased patient satisfaction, continued patient loyalty and long-term practice growth. This presentation will help attendees understand how the unique physical and cognitive changes that occur with aging impact the decision-making process; develop enhanced relationship-building skills for all staff levels that lead to increased patient satisfaction and long-term practice growth; and create non-traditional marketing programs proven to be effective, especially in times of economic challenge and limited budgets.


Caring about Counseling: The Journey for Families and Professionals
Johnnie Sexton, Au.D.

The CARE Project introduces the participants to 7 emotional stages of grief associated with deafness and hard of hearing individuals and allows them to learn from and analyze eight perspectives presented through a documentary film viewing. This process will require active listening on the part of the participants as each story is viewed in order to identify the different emotions discussed. Participants will learn to become active listeners through shared experiences when counseling patients and their families.


Tinnitus: Radiators, Chickenpox and Keys to Success Part I
Stephen Nagler, M.D.

This two-part presentation addresses the nature of the aversive response to tinnitus and offers a series of principles that audiologists can readily employ to achieve meaningful and long lasting relief for individuals suffering from intrusive tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia. Attendees will gain an appreciation for the crucial role of both counseling and sound therapy with an eye towards achieving successful outcomes. A universally applicable practical stepwise approach to counseling is outlined. The presentation also includes a section on “the business of tinnitus” with strategies for insuring that those audiologists who choose to devote part of their time to treating this underserved and largely misunderstood segment of the population will find it to be not only emotionally rewarding, but financially rewarding as well – in an era when third‑party payors have made it challenging to do so.

2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.

3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.

Asking the Right Questions So You Can Document the Best Answers
Kim Cavitt, Au.D. and Brian Urban, Au.D.

This presentation will focus on the fundamentals of case history, patient and physician recommendations, and the associated documentation requirements of audiologists. We will discuss the intricacies of taking comprehensive case histories as well as how to document your case history, results, and recommendations to meet the requirements of medical necessity and patient care coordination. After this presentation, attendees will be able to define the differences between audiologic, medical, family, hearing aid, and social histories; list the requirements for documenting medical necessity; and demonstrate appropriate documentation of patient results and recommendations.


Current Tax and Financial Implications for Practice Owners
Anna Fink, CPA

This presentation will discuss what your practice needs to understand about current tax laws and how to succeed as a small business. We will discuss current business and individual tax law and what credits and deductions you should be aware of. In addition, we will discuss how to track your income and expenses for the best financial management of your practice. Other topics will include small business deductions; Quickbooks; accrual vs cash accounting; integration of accounts receivable/practice management systems with accounting records; cash management and tracking; credit card matters; and working with staff to do these functions efficiently and accurately.


Verification of Advanced Hearing Aid Features: Good for Your Patients and Your Practice
Elizabeth Thompson, Au.D. and Jessica Zellmer, Au.D.

With advancements in today’s verification equipment we are able to go beyond evaluation of the gain/output of hearing instruments. This presentation will discuss how to evaluate directional microphone function in the test box and real ear measurements. In addition we will also examine techniques for evaluation of frequency lowering technology instruments using live-voice and recorded speech stimuli. We will discuss the use of verification to increase the efficiency of your fittings by lowering your return rate and decreasing the number of follow-up adjustments. Lastly we will discuss techniques to market verification measures to attract new patients to your practice.


Tinnitus: Radiators, Chickenpox and Keys to Success Part II
Stephen Nagler, M.D.

This two-part presentation addresses the nature of the aversive response to tinnitus and offers a series of principles that audiologists can readily employ to achieve meaningful and long lasting relief for individuals suffering from intrusive tinnitus, hyperacusis, and misophonia. Attendees will gain an appreciation for the crucial role of both counseling and sound therapy with an eye towards achieving successful outcomes. A universally applicable practical stepwise approach to counseling is outlined. The presentation also includes a section on “the business of tinnitus” with strategies for insuring that those audiologists who choose to devote part of their time to treating this underserved and largely misunderstood segment of the population will find it to be not only emotionally rewarding, but financially rewarding as well – in an era when third‑party payors have made it challenging to do so.

4:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.

4:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.

7:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.